A 15-Year-Old Boy Captures Incredibly Clear Picture of Saturn And Its Iconic Rings Using A Telescope In His Back Garden

1/06/2016

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A 15-year-old boy, from Seaford, East
Sussex, has succeeded in capturing an awesome picture of Saturn using a
telescope in his back garden that several experienced astronomers would be
proud of. Marcus Reed managed to take this clear image of the gas giant,
including its entire rings, using a 102mm diameter reflector telescope.
According to Marcus Reed, he stayed up until 4am, using an iPhone app called
Sky Guide to locate the gas giant planet in the sky.

He said: “I took the picture at about four
in the morning. I had turned on the app and saw that Saturn was visible, so
straight away I put my slippers on and ran downstairs, setting up my telescope
on the back lawn in my pyjamas. I was pleasantly surprised when I looked back
and saw I had such a clear picture - Saturn is my favourite planet. 'I have
been interested in astronomy and photography for a long time, and I really
enjoy it - I use my telescope every night when it's clear.”

The Gas Giant Saturn, is the sixth planet
from the sun and also the second largest in the solar system. Saturn has been observed
by astronomers in the night's sky since ancient times.

Tom Kerss, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory
in Greenwich, said: “Marcus has done a fantastic job at capturing the view of
Saturn we might see with our eyes using a good beginner’s telescope.

The familiar rings are clearly seen
encircling the gas giant, which as of this month is rising before the Sun.

At the present time one of Saturn’s poles
appears to be covered by its rings, which are more inclined from our
perspective, but in 7 years or so Saturn will once again look as Marcus has
captured it here.”